May 28, 2015

County Seeks Public Input about Health, Quality of Life Issues

County residents are invited to participate in upcoming community conversations that will give them an opportunity to share their views about how Montgomery County can be a healthier place to live.

Sponsored by Healthy Montgomery, a community-based effort to improve the health and well-being of Montgomery County residents, the “conversations” will help provide input and feedback to complete a community health needs assessment. Each session will last approximately two hours and refreshments will be served.

2 comments:

The sound level on our Ride-On buses is far too loud. Drivers are either NOT taught to lower volume for announcements or they choose not to. This excessively LOUD announcement system, hurts not only the passengers, but is harmful to drivers who claim they don't hear it. Some drivers, when asked to lower volume, say it has to be loud for the handicapped. This is a ridiculous reply as the handicapped are even more aware of when they need to get off the bus. Others say things equally wrong, like it has to be this loud since 9/11. Is there no way that drivers can be educated to control the volume to normal levels? I often ask drivers to lower the volume, less than half comply with the request. This is a noise pollution issue. Sadly, those in charge are comfortable in their cars and never use public transportation.

Ride On staff responds that they regret that you find sound levels on Ride On buses uncomfortably loud. They say, ”Many of us here commute regularly via Ride On, so we're familiar with the announcement system. The interior and exterior volume levels on Ride On buses are preset to meet environmental compliance standards. To be heard accurately over the interior bus noise levels (80-90db) interior Ride On enunciator sound systems are set at 90-93db. Drivers can adjust the interior sound volume. However, this is not advised, because one person may think it is too loud while another may need the enunciator at the pre-set level in order to hear the announcements. If there is a particular bus in question, please let us know. We would be happy to check it out for compliance.”